Teams learn their fate in opening National Cup and National Shield draws for 26-27

Leeds Gorse, back in the competition after missing last season, were paired with fellow NVL Division 1 side Cambridge ARU. 

MAAREE Women’s Super League newcomers London Giants will look to get their season off to a flyer as they journey to Merseyside to take on NVL Division 1’s Everton Belugas. 

 13 other teams were given byes through to the Last16 stage, including last season’s winners Durham Palatinates and 2023-24 champions Team SideOut Polonia. 

In the Men’s National Cup, just one DYNAMIK Men’s Super League team will face a Last 32 tie, with newly-promoted Essex Blaze hosting 2025-26 National Shield winners Darkstar Derbyshire. 

Among the five other ties, Durham Palatinates - relegated from the top-flight last season - will make the long trip to NVL Division 1 side Dartford Crossers. 

Both last season’s finalists, winners London Giants and runners-up Malory Eagles UEL, were given byes. 

The Last 64 and Last 32 ties of the National Shield were also drawn, with Student Project Officers Ruby Farrell and Josh King doing the honours. 

Teams were split into one of four zones – North, Central, South East and South West – with teams knowing both their opening and potentially second opponents. 

Last 64 National Shield ties will be played on 28th and 29th September 2026, while Last 32 matches in both competitions will take place on 14th and 15th November 2026. 

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You can watch the full draws for all of the matches on the Volleyball England YouTube Channel here.  

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The full draw results are as follows…

 

National Shield 26-27

 

Women’s Last 64

North

University of Leeds vs Sheffield

Chester Amazons vs Hull Thunder

Manchester Liberators vs Stockport

 

Central

Nottingham Rockets vs Wombourne

Leicester Athena vs Ashfield Vipers

Lincoln Cannons vs Newcastle Staffs

 

South East

MK City vs Wapping Wildcats

Worthing vs Cambridge 3

Sussex Dolphins vs Rhinos Cambridge

 

South West

Bristol 2 vs Portsmouth

Bedminster vs Weymouth

 

Women’s Last 32

North

Leeds Gorse 2 vs University of Leeds or Sheffield

The Miners Doncaster vs Chester Amazons or Hull Thunder

Everton Narwhals vs Manchester Liberators or Stockport

Manchester Marvels Mystics vs York Falcons

 

Central

Nottingham Rockets vs Wombourne

Leicester Athena vs Ashfield Vipers

Lincoln Cannons vs Newcastle Staffs

 

South East

MK City vs Wapping Wildcats

Worthing vs Cambridge 3

Sussex Dolphins vs Rhinos Cambridge

 

South West

Bristol 2 vs Portsmouth

Bedminster vs Weymouth

 

Men’s Last 64

North

Leeds Gorse 2 vs Everton Manatees

Harrogate vs Manchester Liberators

Phiet Panthers vs Hull Thunder

Hull Thunder 2 vs Liverpool

Manchester Moss Side vs Marske

Manchester Marvels Marauders vs Garstang Natives

Stockport vs University of Leeds

 

Central

Black Country 2 vs Tamworth Spartans

Wombourne vs Darkstar Derbyshire 2

Nottingham Trent University vs BDS Gurdwara

Leicester vs Nuneaton Inferno

Telford vs Nottingham Rockets

Rise vs Tamworth Spartans 2

Newcastle Staffs 2 vs Birmingham City

 

South East

Newmarket 2 vs Northampton

GNG Bedford vs Cambridge

Onyx vs Army

Brazukas London vs Spelthorne Future Stars

Rhinos Cambridge 2 vs Tonbridge

Norwich Spikers vs London Londinium

Newmarket vs Red Eagles Luton

 

South West

Worthing vs Brighton Jaguars

Weymouth vs Wessex

Wiltshire Mavericks vs Cardiff Panthers

City of Bristol vs Guildford International

Reading Aces vs Team South Wales

Bristol 2 vs Weymouth 2

Oxford Globetrotters vs Portsmouth Phoenix

 

Men’s Last 32

North

Leeds Gorse 2 or Everton Manatees vs Hull Thunder 2 or Liverpool

Manchester Moss Side or Marske vs Everton Dugongs

Harrogate or Manchester Liberators vs Manchester Marvels Marauders or Garstang Natives

Phiet Panthers or Hull Thunder vs Stockport or University of Leeds

 

Central

Rise or Tamworth Spartans 2 vs Black Country 2 or Tamworth Spartans

Nottingham Trent University or BDS Gurdwara vs Wombourne or Darkstar Derbyshire 2

Telford or Nottingham Rockets vs Newcastle Staffs 2 or Birmingham City

Sheffield 2 vs Leicester or Nuneaton Inferno

 

South East

Onyx or Army vs Norwich Spikers or London Londinium

Newmarket or Red Eagles Luton vs Brazukas London or Spelthorne Future Stars

Newmarket 2 or Northampton vs GNG Bedford or Cambridge

Essex Estonians vs Rhinos Cambridge 2 or Tonbridge

 

South West

City of Bristol or Guildford International vs Oxford Globetrotters or Portsmouth Phoenix

Weymouth or Wessex vs Worthing or Brighton Jaguars

Bristol 2 or Weymouth 2 vs Reading Aces or Team South Wales

Wiltshire Mavericks or Cardiff Panthers vs Newbury

 

 

National Cup 26-27

 

Women’s Last 32

Malory Eagles vs Reading Aces

Leeds Gorse vs Cambridge ARU

Everton Belguas vs London Giants

 

 

Men’s Last 32

Loughborough Students vs Sheffield

Legends Oldham vs Coventry & Warwick Riga

Cambridge ARU vs Bristol

Black Country vs London Lionhearts

Essex Biaze vs Darkstar Derbyshire

Dartford crosers vs Durham Palatinates